This project investigates the influence of backing materials on the burning of corrugated cardboard in an upright configuration. After reading and researching about warehouse fires involving cardboard, there is an apparent need for testing on different cardboards and material infused cardboards. The experiments consisted of four different material set ups, duplicating the ignition source and uniform burning that occurs with each material. Cardboard and material backing temperatures were gathered by mounting thermocouples into the cardboard and material backings. Mass loss data from the cardboard was gathered from a load cell and graphed to show steady mass loss rates per unit time. The flame and pyrolysis heights were determined from video footage and calculated through a MatLab program.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• DeCiero, Amanda J.
• Travis, Benjamin Anslo

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042811-154746

Advisor

• Rangwala, Ali S.

Year

• 2011

Date created

• 2011-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright